Envelope opening apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for opening an envelope upon three sides. The apparatus employs a circular rotating wheel which supports a plurality of complementary pairs of paddles which are designed to open at predetermined times to receive an envelope and close upon the envelope in a protective manner. The envelope is first received in the paddles with the leading edge thereof slightly exposed. As the paddles progress in their circular motion, the leading edge is engaged by means which weaken the edge. Thereafter, the paddles are opened and a conveyor below the paddles repositions the envelope between the paddles so as the trailing and bottom edges thereof are slightly exposed. As the paddles progress, the trailing and bottom edges are likewise weakened after which the envelope is discharged to an opening means. Opening means are provided which receive the envelope and convey the envelope by means of a belt over idler pulleys which cause parallel shearing forces to the sides of the envelope by reverse flexing of the envelope to crack the weakened edges. The envelope is then passed between a belt and a roller through which a vacuum is induced to grip the opposite panels of the envelope and exert a separating force perpendicular to the panels to complete opening of the envelope and expose the contents thereof.

United States Patent 1191 Russell et al. [4 1 July 9, 1974 ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS AND METHOD 57 ABSTRACT [75] Inventors: q f Russell Philademhia Apparatus and method for opening an envelope upon Young Wenonah Barry three sides. The apparatus employs a circular rotating Nuss woodbury both of wheel which supports a plurality of complementary [73] Assignee: Kenco Corporation, Ch Hill, pairs of paddles which are designed to open at prede- N.J. termined times to receive an envelope and close upon the envelope in a protective manner. The envelope is [22], Flled' Sept 1972 first received in the paddles with the leading edge [21] App], No 289,314 thereof slightly exposed. As the paddles progress in their circular motion, the leading edge is engaged by means which weaken the edge. Thereafter, the pad- [52] US. Cl 53/3, 53/381 R, 83/912 dles are Opened and a conveyor below the paddles [51] Illt. p i i theenvelope between the paddles so as the Fleld of Search R, trailing and bottom edges thereof are exposed 198/42, 210, DIG, 16, 271/51, 52, 80 As the paddles progress, the trailing and bottom edges are likewise weakened after which the envelope is dis- [56] References cued 7 charged to an opening means.

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Opening means are provided which receive the willsea envelope and convey the envelope means of a 2726'499 12/1955 at g i over idler pulleys which cause parallel shearing forces 5 H1 X to the sides of the envelope by, reverse flexing of the 3087596 4/1963 Fulton x envelope to crack the weakened edges. The envelope 3:1l6:7l8 H1964 xm m i ei i i if. .11 53/381 R is P Passed b w a thmugh 3,l32,629 5/1964 Kropotich 53/381 R which a vacuum 18 Induced t0 P the PP Panels 3,613,315 10/1971 Schickling 83/912 X of the envelope and exert a separating force Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerJ. Sipos Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles F. Duffield 2ND POSlTlONING FLOOR AND 3RD EDGE 3RD HEATER FIG. 22-

ZND HEA FIG. lS- 2| FIRST EDGE CLEANER FlG. IB

DIFFERENTIAL SEPERATOR F|G.25 AND 26 FIG.

WHEEL PADDLES l3 AND l4 perpendicular to the panels to complete opening of the envelope and expose the contents thereof.

28 Claims, 30 Drawing Figures CONVEYOR VAC PICK UP FEED CONVEYOR FlG. 7 AND 8 MlSALlGNMENT DETECTOR Pmmmm 3.822.523

mm m or 19 PATENIEDJII. 91924 saw our 19 PAIENIEM sum SHEET 0' 0F 19 mmem awn 3.822.523

mm as or -19 sum mar 19 mammal W sum 10s or 159-;

mzmzum 9: 1

now

NON

vON

mmzm 9M4 sum '19 or 1 9 FEED PHOTO EYE nov Ac 0 ,sT ST SEQ. TIMER sTART 2 U P82 L 3 0 G ll sToP ST| P 3 Q STANDBY RELAY ST STAND BY U H WHEEL DT Ms WATER PUMP WASHER MoToR 0T2 4 TR PRIM. W VANE g- @WHEEL. ROTATION M52 K UGHT 2 SENSE 0/O-T MS 3 W PB 3 ENVELOPE MISPOSITION ALERT CR 4 HORN ALARM INTERLOCK A H- 11 u' HEAT RELAY 1| If! U HSTS l-l 6} RoLLER FLOOR A INSIDE BRUSH H 6 WCRI-Z 7 CFEED VAC PUMP II I X 2 RoLLER FLOOR FEED MECH.

TR SECD O OUTSIDE BRUSH CR2 2 I vAc CLEANER 5-| X J CONVEYOR J SEPARATOR SEP. VAC PUMP COUNTER I O JAM RELAY I P85 5-2 JAM 11 T IXCR|3 D BLOWER If II V 

1. An envelope opening machine comprising, a plurality of pairs of radially disposed paddles supported in a circular array; means for rotating the circular array; means at predetermined angular positions around the circular array for arcuately opening and closing respective pairs of paddles as they pass; means at a loading station at which the pairs of paddles are open for feeding envelopes between the paddles; means at said loading station for positioning the envelope between the paddles with at least one edge exposed; first opening means at an opening station at which the paddles are closed upon the envelope for treating the exposed edges; and, means at a discharge station at which the paddles are open for discharging the envelope.
 2. The envelope opening machine of claim 1 wherein the paddle pairs are vertically disposed and further including both a floor disposed beneath the paddles and an inside stop bar adjacent the inside edge of the paddles at the loading station to position the inside and bottom edges of the envelope so as to be exposed with respect to the paddles.
 3. The envelope opening machine of claim 2 further including both a second floor disposed beneath the paddles and an outside stop bar adjacent the outside edge of the paddles at a shifting station angularly disposed between the opening station and discharge station to position the outside edge and bottom edge of the envelope; and, means for opening the paddles at The shifting station; means for shifting the envelopes radially outwardly against the outside stop bar; and, second opening means for treating the exposed edges of the envelope.
 4. The envelope opening machine of claim 3 wherein the first and second floors are conveyors moving radially inwardly and outwardly respectively to effect positioning of the envelope with respect to the inside and outside stop bars.
 5. The envelope opening machine of claim 3 further including means at the discharge station for receiving the discharged envelopes and exerting a separating force to the side panels thereof to effect opening.
 6. The envelope opening machine of claim 1 further including detection means disposed adjacent the paddles to detect mispositioning of the envelope between the paddles.
 7. The envelope opening machine of claim 6 wherein the detector means includes at least one switch actuator positioned closely adjacent the arcuate path of travel of a predetermined edge of the paddles; an electronic switch operated by the actuator; and, an alarm operated by the switch to indicate a mispositioned envelope.
 8. The envelope opening machine of claim 3 wherein the first and second opening means for treating the exposed edges of the envelope apply heat to the edge in a time-temperature relationship sufficient to carbonize the exposed edges.
 9. The envelope opening machine of claim 8 further including means for cleaning the edges of the paddles to remove any residue resulting from the treatment of the envelope edges.
 10. The envelope opening machine of claim 8 further including means adjacent both the first and second opening stations for cleaning the exposed edges of the envelope subsequent to treatment thereof.
 11. The envelope opening machine of claim 1 wherein the first opening means treats the exposed edges by abrading the edges to thereby weaken the edges of the envelopes.
 12. The envelope opening machine of claim 3 wherein the first and second opening means treat the inside and outside exposed edges of the envelope respectively and further including a third opening means disposed beneath the paddle for treating the exposed bottom edge of the envelope.
 13. The envelope opening machine of claim 12 wherein the first, second and third opening means include elongated heating elements disposed adjacent the respective exposed edges of the envelope to carbonize and weaken the edges of the envelope; and, wherein the first and second opening means further include means for both adjusting the radial distance of the heater from the respective envelope edge as well as the angular inclination relative thereto.
 14. The envelope opening machine of claim 13 wherein the third opening means includes means both for adjusting the vertical distance of the heaters from the envelope edge as well as the angulation of the heaters in a horizontal plane.
 15. The envelope opening machine of claim 1 wherein the first opening means treats the envelope edges by heating the edge to a temperature sufficient to carbonize the edge and further including a vent hood positioned above the paddles to collect fumes; an air filter; ducting connecting the air filter and hood; and, fan means for circulating the air from the hood through the air filter.
 16. An envelope opening machine comprising, a circular supporting wheel disposed in a horizontal plane; means for supporting and driving the wheel in rotary motion; a plurality of flat stationary paddles rigidly secured to the outer and lower surface of the wheel perpendicular thereto and on radial lines extending from the center of the wheel; a plurality of mating, moveable paddles for each stationary paddle pivotally supported adjacent each stationary paddle for complementary closing relationship therewith; a loading station; first operator means for opening the complementary pairs of stationary and moveable paddles positioned at the loading station and closing the paddlEs subsequent thereto; loading means for delivering envelopes standing on edge between the stationary and moveable paddles of a complementary pair of paddles; a first conveyor floor disposed beneath the complementary paddle pair at the loading station and moving in a direction to convey the envelopes radially inwardly of the wheel; a first stop bar positioned adjacent and radially inwardly of the paddles at the loading station to position the leading edge of the envelope slightly exposed from the paddles; first opening means disposed circumferentially from the loading station in the direction of motion of the wheel and positioned to engage the exposed leading edge of the envelope; a discharge station disposed circumferentially from the opening means in the direction of travel of the wheel; and, second operator means for opening the paddles at the discharge station to release the envelopes.
 17. The envelope opening machine of claim 16 further including, a transfer station disposed circumferentially in the direction of travel of the wheel from the first opening means; a second conveyor floor disposed beneath the complementary paddles at the transfer station and moving in a direction radially outwardly of the wheel, said conveyor floor being at an elevation beneath the paddles to position the bottom edge of the envelopes slightly exposed from the paddles; a second stop bar positioned adjacent and radially outwardly of the paddles at the transfer station to position the trailing edge of the envelope slightly exposed from the paddles; third operator means for opening the paddles at the transfer station to permit the envelope to be repositioned within the paddles radially outwardly of the wheel; and, second and third opening means both disposed circumferentially in the direction of travel of the wheel from the transfer station and adjacent the exposed trailing and bottom edges of the envelope respectively to engage the trailing and bottom edges respectively.
 18. The envelope opening machine of claim 17 further including a second wheel mounted concentric of the supporting wheel and including cam lobes at predetermined points thereon and wherein the first, second and third operator means include cam followers driven by the cam lobes.
 19. The envelope opening machine of claim 17 wherein the first and second conveyor floors each include a plurality of parallel driven rollers as the conveyor.
 20. The machine of claim 17 further including switch means disposed above the stationary paddles; cam means carried by the switch means; and, cam actuator means on each stationary paddle for tripping the switch means to initiate a feeding signal in timed relationship to the opening of the paddles at the loading station.
 21. The envelope opening machine of claim 17 further including separator means at the discharge station for receiving the envelopes from the discharge station and applying opposite forces to the sides of the envelope to separate the sides and open the envelopes exposing the contents thereof.
 22. The method of opening envelopes comprising, conveying the envelopes edgewise on a first conveyor to a position between opposed protective paddles leaving the leading edge thereof slightly exposed; closing the paddles to grip the envelope; weakening the exposed leading edge; and, discharging the envelope from the protective paddles.
 23. The method of opening envelopes of claim 22 further including the steps of, opening the paddles above a second conveyor and conveying the envelopes to a position between the protective paddles to slightly expose the opposite edge and bottom edge thereof; and, weakening the exposed opposite edge and bottom edge.
 24. Apparatus for opening envelopes comprising, a circular array of envelope receiving means; means for rotating the circular array; feeding means for feeding envelopes to the receiving means; opening means for treating the envelopes; Detection means for detecting stoppage of rotation of the circular array; and means responsive to the detecting means for discontinuing the operation of the feeding means and the opening means.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the opening means includes heater means and further including blower means for ventilating the apparatus and means responsive to the detection of stoppage of the blower means for discontinuing operation of the heater means.
 26. Apparatus for opening envelopes comprising, a wheel including envelope receiving means and rotating means for rotating the wheel; feeding means for feeding envelopes to the receiving means; envelope treating means including heat generating means; blower means for ventilating the apparatus; envelope opening means; cycle time means for initiating operation of wheel rotation and the opening means upon turn on; blower operation after a first predetermined time and operation of the envelope opening means and feeding means after a second predetermined time.
 27. The apparatus of claim 26 further including circuit means providing standby operation and operable to discontinue operation of the opening means, feed means and envelope treating means.
 28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein a said cycle timer discontinues operation of the treating means and feeding means upon turnoff, discontinues operation of the opening means after a first predetermined time and discontinues operation of the rotating means and blower means after a second and longer predetermined time. 